Thursday, July 28, 2016

A WICKED HALLOWEEN: A Paranormal Romance Box Set of Tales
Featuring Witches, Vampires, Shifters, Ghosts, and More is now available for
pre-order!

Thirteen paranormal romance tales that will thrill and chill
you just in time for All Hallow's Eve. With many of the stories set in
Salem—the ultimate city for witchy, demon, and shape-shifting delight—these
tales will enthrall you with their sexy heroes and spellbinding characters.
Salem has never been this hot!

Alistair spotted the gorgeous brunette across the room and,
when she approached the refreshment table, he followed. For a millisecond he’d
taken her for the scrawny woman in the red dress, but on closer inspection he
was pleased to note the differences. Same dress, but the way this woman wore
it, he was tempted to peel it from her, inch by scrumptious inch.

His pack mate had
poured a few bottles of something into the punch and, while it was entertaining
to watch some of the guests succumb to the antics of the season, he didn’t
quite feel the same about the sexy female in front of him. This woman would be
far more interesting sober, he had a hunch and his predictions usually turned
out to be spot on. The markings on her arms intrigued him and he wondered if
they covered more of her body. Like tendrils of smoke curling around her flesh,
they spiraled around her skin in an unending pattern, giving him the urge to
trace every single one and see where it led.

He should be home at Briarwood, but his duties as Beta
brought him here to make sure Jessup didn’t get too out of hand. So far the pup
had been a bit mischievous, but nothing that would make him worry. Whatever
concerns he had melted when he gazed at the beauty in front of him, his animal
taking control.

Serious gray eyes winked at him from behind an elegant lacy
black mask and he had the urge to peek beneath it to see what she was hiding.
Full lips bowed below the mask, and her mass of dark hair was wound into an
up-do that he longed to plunge his fingers into while he explored her mouth
with his.

Jesus, Alastair. Get a grip.

His wolf perked up when she’d come into view and his
instinct to bed her followed in quick succession. He shook it off with a frown.
One night stands were not his style, especially with women he didn’t know. He
had other concerns and, as soon as he made sure Jessup wasn’t going to fuck up
and intoxicate half of the wealthier citizens of Salem, he was out of here.
Duncan was still missing and he’d left Laurel in charge in his stead.

But, her eyes. Fuck. They fairly glowed with a power that
socked him in the gut as they watched him from behind the mask. When she wet
her lips and took her bottom lip between her teeth, he almost lost the battle
with himself not to let his beast take over and drag her into the nearest coat
closet.

“Are you here with someone?” He cleared his throat, aware of
the growl threading through his voice.

“No. Are you?”

“Just a couple of friends. What do you think? Want to end up
in a compromising situation with a stranger?” He grinned and, seeing Jessup
approach, steered her away from the refreshment table. Alistair wanted her to
himself, at least for a little while.

“Seven deadly sins? How about a dance? With my footwork,
that could lead towards all kinds of infractions.”

“Hmm.” He swung her into his arms and into the crowd,
relishing the sensation of his hand on her lower back. The plunging view
offered by her bodice made his body stand at attention and the wolf beneath his
skin whined with want. “So, which deadly sin could you possibly have that would
sink a guy faster than lust? That dress…”

“These shoes.”

“Oh, but those… those are not a sin. Not at all. In fact, I
could look at them all night long.”

“You could, could you?” The woman laughed, deep and sensual.
Her eyes snapped with amusement.

“Then you try wearing them.”

“Maybe I will.” He wanted her, and the closer they got, the
more obvious it was going to become. He weaved her around the dance floor, her
movements matching his. Her perfume and the spicy scent of her hair were making
it hard to concentrate. At the look in her eyes, he dragged her back hard
against him, his animal wild in his blood.

“Do you want to get out of here?”

“Please.”

“Let’s get some air.”
Alistair led her out onto the balcony, the twinkle lights flickered making the
grounds outside the hotel look enchanted. He had to clear his head.

“Who are you?” Alistair brushed a strand of hair away from
her face.

“I’m just a girl who needs an escape from reality. How about
you?”

“Same here.”

“Just a girl, huh?” The mystery woman smiled.

He gathered her into his arms, letting her feel the full
force of his arousal. “I don’t know. I’m not feeling much like a girl right
now.”

“No. I didn’t think you were.” She leaned into his embrace,
her lips curving up in an inviting smile.

“What’s your name?”

“Bridget. Yours?”

“Alistair.”

“Well, Alistair. It’s nice to meet you. I have one
question.”

“What’s that?”

“How long is it going to take for you to kiss me?”

“Time me.” Alistair’s mouth covered hers hungrily and he
forced her mouth open with his thrusting tongue. She gasped, trembling within
his embrace and he pulled her deeper into the shadows, away from prying eyes.

Monday, July 25, 2016

Well, it's about time! nagged the little voice in my head. I've been fairly focused on my sweet contemporary romances, but my naughty side just had to peek out. This short story was part of the At Her Service anthology released earlier this year. The series is no more, and all our stories are now available as individual titles. Including this spicy little number by my sultry side Emilia Mancini.

In Eyes of the Wolf, Private detective Jake McDonnell has been hired to make sure Maria Rodriguez isn't involved in illegal activities. He's certain she's on the up and up until he catches her heading to the seedier side of town. He follows, curious why she'd be walking into a dimly lit warehouse. What he discovers will leave his senses reeling and his body aching.

This is an erotic story that contains multiple partners, voyeurism, oral and rough sex.

As much as I didn’t want to believe Maria was involved in illegal activities, good, honest people didn’t hang out in the warehouse district on Friday night.

I sat in the car watching her walk through what could easily pass as the worst part of town to a door that didn’t even have proper hinges or a knob. She knocked. The thin piece of metal scraped the ground as it opened. She spoke to a man in a suit and tie, then disappeared inside.

I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel debating. She’d tell her mother to fire me if I tried to follow her. But, hell, I’d be out of a job anyway if she were murdered by gang members. Driving into the shadows, I parked and rushed to the door.

The metal sheet scraped open at the sound of my knock and a man looked me over. “Password?”

Password?

“Uh,” I stuttered out. “I don’t…I don’t know.”

He jerked his head toward the darkness behind me, silently telling me to get lost.

I pulled my wallet out, and he chuckled. “You don’t have enough in there to get by me. Get outta here.”

As the door closed, I tried to get a glimpse inside but the only thing I could see was black cloth blocking the view inside the warehouse.

Fuck.

Maria was safe. At least I knew that. She was inside a secure building with a guy the size of a sumo wrestler blocking the door. Nobody was getting in that shouldn’t. That was only mildly comforting considering I had no idea who could get in.

Now that I knew she was in a secure location, I told myself to return to the car and wait for her. But if I didn’t have a clear report for Mrs. Rodriguez on what her daughter was up to—especially now that I had my doubts about Maria’s actions—I had a feeling the woman would have my balls in a jar.

Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I walked away casually, but the moment I neared the corner of the building, I glanced back. No one was in sight, so I rounded into the dark-as-fuck alley and pulled my keys from the pocket. The flashlight attached to my key ring was small, but efficient enough to keep me from tripping over discarded bottles and cans. I flashed the light over the side of the building as I went. Not a single damned window.

I was about to give up when a door farther down the alley opened. A guy came stumbling out and lit a cigarette. The lighter illuminated the mask covering the top half of his face. I was thrown for a moment, not expecting that, but then a woman came out of the door and threw herself at his back. She didn’t close the door behind her, letting light stream into the dimly lit passage.

I stood, motionless, not wanting to get caught. As I watched, the woman—also wearing a mask that hid the top of her face—pushed the man to the wall and dropped to her knees in front of him.

Emilia Mancini is the naughtier side to author Marci Boudreaux. Emilia stays hidden in the shadows like a nefarious side kick, slipping out only when the stories Marci wants to share are a little too grown up to be called sweet romance.

Seducing Kate is Emilia’s second release and, at least for the moment, her crowning glory.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

With two published books under my belt in The Last Timekeepers YA time travel series—Book #1 and the prequel—I’m looking forward to the release of Book #2: The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret later this year. It’s been a long bumpy road to publication, but sooo worth the ride! As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I always include a scene where my characters sit down for a meal or share some food together. I try to make it fun, and food scenes seem to give the reader a needed break to digest (pun intended) what has taken place in the story so far.

The summer season in the northern hemisphere is filled with long weekends, vacations, and family get-togethers. In the Ledwith house, we have a sure-fire recipe that is guaranteed to fill your guests and family members’ bellies when they come a-calling during their holidays. We’ve used this recipe time and time again, and it has never disappointed even the fussiest eater. I hope you share this wonderful feast with your family, no matter what season it is!

Note: Although the prep time is 5-10 minutes, the total time takes 6 hours and 35 minutes which includes marinating the pork tenderloin. This recipe serves 4, but we always double up, especially when we have a lot of mouths to feed!

Mix all ingredients except meat in a small bowl. Lay meat in a shallow dish (we put the pork in a sealed plastic bag). Pour the marinade over the meat and then turn to evenly coat the tenderloin.

Refrigerate for 6 hours to marinate. We find marinating the longer the better, so if you prefer, mix the marinade the night before.
Remove meat from marinade. Place pork in a shallow dish. Discard the marinade.

Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until meat is done (160ºF). We always use a meat thermometer.
Serve with mashed potatoes, pork gravy, and mixed vegetables.
That’s it! Easy-peasy, right? Now what will you do with all that time on your hands while the pork tenderloin is marinating in the fridge? How about indulging in one of my books from The Last Timekeepers series?

Here’s an excerpt from The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis:

Amanda Sault silently studied the words she just scrawled: May 1st, 1214—Games and songs and revelry, act as the cloak of devilry. So that an English legend may give to the poor, we must travel to Nottingham to even the score.

She frowned. She was the Scribe. Amanda knew that meant she was supposed to understand what this riddle meant. But she didn’t have a clue. All she knew was that she, her four annoying classmates, and two offbeat adults were standing in what was left of the lost continent of Atlantis and they were supposed to be the Timekeepers, the legendary time travelers handpicked by destiny to keep Earth’s history safe from evil. But no one had told them how they were supposed to do it.

Their problem: no matter what happened—good or bad—they weren’t supposed to mess with the past. Period. Dot. End of story. Amanda felt hot liquid build in her throat. Her thumb traced the words of the arcane riddle. Their first Timekeeper mission. Amanda knew this wasn’t the end of the story.

Lilith was a young girl with dreams and a family before the final destruction of Atlantis shattered those dreams and tore her family apart. Now refugees, Lilith and her father make their home in the Black Land. This strange, new country has no place in Lilith’s heart until a beloved high priestess introduces Lilith to her life purpose—to be a Timekeeper and keep time safe.

Summoned through the seventh arch of Atlantis by the Children of the Law of One, Lilith and her newfound friends are sent into Atlantis’s past, and given a task that will ultimately test their courage and try their faith in each other. Can the Timekeepers stop the dark magus Belial before he changes the seers’ prophecy? If they fail, then their future and the earth’s fate will be altered forever.

BONUS: Download the free PDF short story The Terrible, Mighty CrystalHERE.

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, available through Mirror World Publishing, and is represented by Walden House (Books & Stuff) for her teen psychic series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.

Vonnie Hughes is a multi-published author in both Regency books and contemporary suspense. She loves the intricacies of the social rules of the Regency period and the far-ranging consequences of the Napoleonic Code. And with suspense she has free rein to explore forensic matters and the strong convolutions of the human mind. Like many writers, some days she hates the whole process, but somehow she just cannot let it go.

Vonnie was born in New Zealand, but she and her husband now live happily in Australia. If you visit Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand be sure to stroll through the Japanese Garden. These is a bronze plaque engraved with a haiku describing the peacefulness of that environment. The poem was written by Vonnie.

Saturday, July 16, 2016

“Scones?” He recoiled as if she’d announced the kitchen teemed with roaches.

“You don’t like them?” She set the tin on the side table and bit her tongue over the urge to tell him how much she detested his books. “I use a recipe my grandmother brought over from Scotland. I serve plain scones along with two other flavors of the day.”

“Coffee will suffice.” He picked up his cup. “Thank you, Olivia, for your hospitality. I’m in need of a room tonight for myself and my, uh, son. A suite would be best, if possible. I’ll pay the going rate, naturally.”

He had no idea what “going rate” she offered to misguided marriage therapists. Not that it mattered. Whether he paid for his stay or not, he had to sleep under her roof. The storm didn’t leave either of them a choice. And she had plenty of rooms. Her other scheduled guests for the week had cancelled due to the weather. “Of course you need to stay. But Liam already has his own room and he’s currently asleep there.”

“From now on, he’ll stay with me.”

Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach. “Dr. Paden, you’re chilled and must have had a terrible drive. Why don’t you relax and worry about yourself this evening. Liam is on a schedule where he goes to sleep before dinner and sleeps through to the early morning. I’ll introduce you to him then.”

He set down his coffee cup with an ominous clank. “I didn’t come here for coffee and scones. I came for my son. Take me to him now.”

A nationally televised bombshell revealing a secret son turns marriage therapist Caleb Paden’s life upside down. While others focus on the public relations disaster for his company, he can only think of rescuing his baby and providing the stable home dictated by his marriage theories—one devoid of love and emotions.

Olivia Wells might not be the baby’s biological mother, but she loves him as much as any parent could. Letting him go will break her heart. Letting him go to a man who doesn’t believe in love will tear her apart.

As she helps Caleb bond with his child, Olivia finds herself falling for the man behind the stuffy therapist persona. However, he wants nothing to do with her love and emotions, and those are the only things she has to give. If she can’t convince him love is the answer, not the enemy, she will lose both the baby she loves and her heart.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Some of you know my day job deals with plants in all sorts of ways from wedding flowers to church bouquets to perennials and annuals. I call it playing in the greenhouses. Mostly I have not given any of my characters, either historical or contemporary, permission to dialog about gardening.

With the release of Whispers of Danger and Love, I am exposing my love of plants through the personality of Cheryl Esterbrook, a landscape designer. She has other things to think besides the hunky detective who lives next door. Cheryl is stuck with a mobster who hired her to design a complete landscape in two weeks and a creepy former boyfriend who will not stop annoying her.

This new book is a romance, an adventure, a mystery, and a glimpse into the world of plants. Did I love writing it? You bet I did! Hope you enjoy reading. My favorite plant? Crocosmia. For more info on this lovely plant, please click here. If you like humming birds crocosmia, also known as falling stars and coppertips, is a plus for your perennial garden.

Here's a little more from my new release. I hope you enjoy it.

When Cheryl realizes her new next-door neighbor is someone she loved as a young girl, she immediately puts the brakes on her emotions. Never again would she allow the gorgeous hunk of a man to break her heart.

Ruggedly handsome Detective David Larkin isn’t used to pretty ladies giving him a firm no. He persists, even as Cheryl fights her own temptations. The two struggle to appreciate each other as adults, even as they admit to deep feelings from their childhood.

Janis Lane is the pen-name for gifted author Emma Lane who writes cozy mysteries as Janis, Regency as Emma, and spice as Sunny Lane.

She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at Herbtique and Plant Nursery, the nursery she and her son own.

Look for information about writing and plants on Emma's new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma's face.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

This last year of Joss Richards’ life has changed for the better—or so she thinks. A new band, a new city, a new life, and, now, a shot at a contract with the hottest rock label around, ICE Records. If she and her bandmates can impress the label, her life will be set. Too bad her best friend thinks something is missing. When Joss receives details of the 1Night Stand date set up for her, she bolts—straight into the arms of a sexy stranger.

When August Bragg glimpses a red-haired goddess in the hotel lobby he can’t get out of his thoughts—or his fantasies. Unable to resist her lure, he indulges in a steamy encounter. Then learns her name, and he realizes his fantasies has left his heart in an ethical dilemma.

Will they give everything up for their careers, or can the man who holds Joss’ future in his hands also convince her to give him her heart?

Excerpt:

She stopped at the entrance and leaned against the wall. With her spiked hair, tight black T-shirt, the swell of her ass in those black skinny jeans, and spike-heeled boots, she personified his fantasy. How could he focus on his date Sunday night when this woman stood in front of him, the picture of everything he’d wanted for months? He stopped next to her and tried not to stare, but her beauty captivated him. Bright-green eyes, a narrow nose, and a gorgeous mouth he wanted to taste so badly he barely withstood being next to her. Keep your composure. She’s a woman. A beautiful woman…. “Hello there.” When she glanced at him, her eyes widened just a bit. “Hi.” Then she curled her lips into a seductive smile. “You look a little lost.” She shrugged. “Hard to be lost when you don’t have a destination.” Gods, her voice…. Pure, raw, Southern sex appeal. “Where are you from?” “South Carolina. You?” “Iceland.” He appreciated the interest in her eyes and the way she pursed her lips. “Your accent’s sexy.” “So is yours.” At the compliment, she actually blushed. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” Shouting over the music started to get old. “Would you like to go somewhere?” From the way her green eyes darkened, he knew her answer before she said a word. No way they’d make it back to his room, not with the way he ached. Time for an alternative plan.

Catherine Peace has been telling stories for as long as she could remember. She often blames two things for her forays into speculative fiction—Syfy (when it was SciFi) channel Sundays with her dad and The Island of Dr. Moreau by HG Wells. She graduated in 2008 from Northern Kentucky University with a degree in English and is still chasing the dream of being super rich and famous, mostly so she can sit around in her PJs all day and write stories. As it is, she's content to spend half the day in her PJs and write stories. Also, she's a reviewer for Indie Books R Us and sometimes contributes to The Pen Punks. When not being a slave to the people in her head, she’s a slave to two adorable dogs.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Beef is a favorite with Studs and most men. Beef on bones is like mana from heaven to them. Must be something carried over from caveman days. Here's an easy recipe that will satisfy the beefaholic in your life.

Pat ribs dry. Grind pepper over the meat. Pour flour into a paper bag. Add 2 - 4 ribs at a time. Shake bag gently to coat the meat. Remove the ribs and set on a large plate. Continue until all the ribs are coated.

Melt the lard or shortening in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Carefully add ribs and brown them on all sides. Don’t crowd the pan. You’re better off to brown the meat in batches. Return ribs to the plate. Lower heat to medium.

Add onions and carrots to the same pot. Sauté until onions are soft and transparent. Add garlic. Cook for 45 - 60 seconds.

Stir in the stock. Bring to a boil over high heat. Scrape in any brown bits clinging to the bottom and sides of the pan.

Reduce heat to medium. Stir in the remaining ingredients.

Nestle ribs in the pan and bring to a boil. Cover and then place in the oven. Braise the ribs for 1 ½ hours or until the meat shows no resistance when pierced with a fork.

Arrange ribs on a clean platter and tent with foil to keep them warm.

Strain the braising liquid through a fine sieve into a saucepan. Press down hard on the vegetables to extract the juices. Discard vegetable. Skim off the surface fat.

Bring the pan to a hard boil. Cook for 2-3 minutes to intensify the flavor.

Pour the sauce into a gravy boat and serve alongside the ribs.

Sloane Taylor is an Award-Winning author with a second passion in her life. She is an avid cook and posts new recipes on her blog http://sloanetaylor.blogspot.com every Wednesday. The recipes are user friendly, meaning easy.

Taylor currently has five explicit romance books released by Toque & Dagger Publishing. Excerpts from her books can be found on her website, blog, and all popular vendors.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

What is your secret fantasy? That one thing you dream of doing but have never had the chance to fulfill in real life… Thirteen writers present sexy, steamy stories of women getting the chance to live out their personal fantasies. What’s yours? Whether it’s several lovers at the same time for a pulse-pounding ménage scene or the allure of getting caught in public, these stories will set your mind ablaze. From voyeurism in a sex club to swinging, cuckolding to cosplay, SURPRISING MYSELF brings you stories from thirteen hot new writers to watch out for and just might make you think about fulfilling your own wildest fantasy.

ABOUT LEA BRONSEN'S STORY "COME ABOARD"

Lorna, a young American reporter, travels to a port town in France to cover a yacht race. She hopes she’ll be able to experience her wildest fantasy on the beach – sex in public. Due to getting on the wrong train, she has an argument with the controller, who she finds both immensely sexy and annoyingly arrogant.

When he brings her to the engine, pretending to restrain her but instead getting intimate with her, she sees the opportunity to live out her fantasy…

EXCERPT

If lucky, I might even meet a handsome Frenchman with whom to spend Saturday night. I’m single, have been for the past few months, and at twenty-three, the lack of sex for such a long time is driving me half-nuts. An interlude with a local hotness on one of the warm beaches of Sables sounds like an irresistible idea. Yes, a beach, or any other public place. The eBook I’m reading features a heroine getting the fuck of her life in an open park at night against a tree in full view of passersby. I want that kind of excitement, too. The three boyfriends I’ve had in the past few years were good in bed but not daring enough. I yearn for someone to do something crazy and a little forbidden with me, in public visibility. Surely, that hint of dangerousness, the possibility of being caught by the authorities, should increase the sexual experience—and our orgasms—tenfold.

For now, I’ll have to do with checking out the cute Maghrebian controller while waiting for him to examine my ticket. Row after row, he walks the narrow aisle toward me, distributing polite smiles to the passengers and answering questions. Tall and broad-shouldered, he has the looks and build of a soccer player. A black tribal tattoo appears below the short sleeve of his purple shirt and travels down his sun-kissed, muscular forearm. Beneath his gray cap, he sports a short buzz cut, and two or three days’ worth of black beard stubble covers his cheeks and chin, just enough to make him…oh, God, immensely sexy. With full lips, a strong nose, and black olive-shaped eyes, he’s a gem of North Africa, an exotic, roughly polished jewel. He would definitely fit in my fuck-on-the-beach fantasy.

BOOK LINKS

ABOUT LEA BRONSEN

I like my reads hot, fast, and edgy, and strive to give my own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city crime drama with my debut novel Wild Hearted, I divide my writing time between psychological thriller, suspense romance, and erotic contemporary romance.

Beat sugar into butter 2 tablespoons at a time until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, then eggs one at a time. Mix in remaining ingredients.

Bake in a greased and floured 9 X 5 pan for 1 hour. Cool completely.

To Assemble American Flag Cake
Cut pound cake into slices and lay across the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan.

Cover cake with a smooth layer of Cool Whip.

Turn pan horizontal. In upper left corner, fill an approximately 3-4 inch by 3-4 inch square with blueberries.

Make seven horizontal lines of strawberry slices. The first four lines should begin from the blueberry section to the far right edge. The bottom three lines should span the entire length of the pan. The top and bottom lines should be touching the top and bottom of the pan respectively to create 13 alternating red and white stripes.

The last step is very important - Thank a member of our Armed Forces and/or a Veteran, and share a piece of patriotic cake.

I write irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. I battle a serious NASCAR addiction and was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels. I lose my keys several times a day, but I never lose my laptop.

Disclaimer: Sara Daniel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.